Do Crest White Strips Expire?

If you have found an old box of Crest whitening strips in your cabinet, you might wonder if they are still alright to use. Crest white strips do have an expiration date, after all, but do they actually expire? It is important to know that they do use hydrogen peroxide to help whiten your teeth.

So before you either throw them away or reapply them, keep reading to find out if they actually expire and if you should still use them.

Do Crest White Strips Expire?

Whitening strips are strips that use hydrogen peroxide gel to whiten your teeth. This can cause tooth sensitivity or gum pain in some people, so make sure you talk with your dentist if you have some existing sensitivity before you use them.

If you have that old box of Crest white strips in your medicine cabinet, you will be able to see its expiration date on there too. To put it simply, yes, they do expire. This is true regardless of the brand, but some strips can last longer than others.

When we’re talking about Crest white strips, though, their tooth whitening strips will last you for about one year out of the box.

Ultimately, it is important to understand that these whitening strips are meant to be used regularly. Ideally, you should use them up before their expiry date instead of letting them expire and potentially turn weak or even break when you try to use them. Keep these in mind and try to use them as they are meant to be used.

Can You Extend the Shelf Life?

You may be able to extend the shelf life of your whitening strips past that one year by storing them in the refrigerator. Some people even freeze them to really extend their shelf life. That being said, freezing is not recommended. Freezing your strips can result in them no longer being usable, so even if you freeze and defrost them, they can become useless. You should only place them in the refrigerator.

If you decide to place your strips in the refrigerator, you should let them cool down to room temperature before you apply them. This is especially important if you already have some teeth sensitivity to cold. In the refrigerator, they can often last a total of 2 years instead of just one.

Is It Dangerous to Use Expired Strips?

Realistically, no, it is not dangerous to use expired strips. You will not experience any more sensitivity or redness than you already do by using expired strips versus using fresh strips.

The problem is more that they use hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient, and past that one-year mark, it might not be as potent as it was when you first bought the box. But, on the other hand, if they are only just a little past the expiration date, they might still whiten your teeth, although not as effectively.

Further past that one year, the active ingredient will degrade even more, which means that you might not notice much of a difference in how white your teeth become. In the end, applying them would just end up being a waste of time and energy.

Will They Cause Damage?

No, expired whitening strips will not cause any extra damage to your teeth. The only actual issue is that they will not work as well, which means that you would be wasting your time.

According to some research, the effectiveness of your strips will generally decrease after the expiration date, which is why you should always check.

Should I Really Use Whitening Strips In General?

Whitening strips use water like many other beauty products, along with hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, because they have water, they can eventually breed bacteria if you store them in an unsafe or unsuitable way, like out in the hot sun. If you are storing them normally, though, your only worry should really be whether they are still effective and can still whiten your teeth.

Keep in mind that whitening strips are actually ADA-approved, meaning that they are safe and effective to use. If you use them right, you will be able to remove all the stains and discoloration from your teeth.

How Do I Use Crest White Strips?

All whitening strips have the instructions printed on the box and are generally easy to use. You only need to apply them to your teeth but be sure to check your box to make sure that you have the instructions right.

Check the box to ensure that you can see that expiration date, too, so that you know how much time you have to use them after that date. Those strips are expensive, after all, so you want to make sure they do not go to waste.

For Crest white strips, here are some general instructions. Each set of strips will come with one for the top and one for the bottom with a plastic liner that covers the gel slide. Once you want to apply the strips, you have to peel that layer away. Ensure that you do not brush your teeth first since not having brushed your teeth will help them adhere better.

Then, it is time to apply them. Just remove that liner and place the gel side to your teeth. Make sure to align it with your gum line before you press it against your teeth for the best contact. You will probably have some extra space on that strip, so just fold that behind your teeth.

Your Crest whitening strips might come with an LED accelerator light too, and if it does, they take a second to apply that and hold it against your teeth. Five minutes later and your teeth should be brighter.

How Long Should I Wear The Strips?

Per application, you should wear your strips anywhere between 5 minutes and 60 minutes. It will ultimately depend on the strength of the product, so you’ll have to check the product information. Follow the directions for the best results.

Once you are done, you only need to peel them from your teeth to start smiling.

Should I Wear Them Multiple Times a Day?

That will depend on the specific instructions on the box. Some will have different recommendations depending on what kind of strips you have, so make sure that you check the instructions so you do not overuse them.

For the most part, you will only want to apply these once a day. Some are meant to be applied twice per day, though.

How Do I Keep My Teeth White?

You have used your whitening strips, and whether you plan to buy another box or whether you are just trying to keep your teeth white in general, there are a few things you can do to help keep your teeth looking great.

• Use a Straw

Try using a straw since this will reduce how much contact sugary drinks have with your teeth. Whenever you have juice or a soda, a straw will be your best bet.

• Rinse Your Mouth After Drinks

You should also try to rinse your mouth out after you have a lot of sugary drinks or things that stain. As much as you might like your coffee, try rinsing your mouth out quickly after you have your morning cup.

• Good Oral Hygiene

Even if you do not have time for rinsing, you can still maintain your usual good dental hygiene too. Try brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste once or twice a day. Use mouthwash too, and do not forget the floss.

Conclusion

Whitening strips are generally easy to use, you can apply them at home, and they work quickly and effectively. So if you need to quickly get rid of some staining, this can be your best option. Just make sure that you check the expiration date first because, by the time they expire, they may not be very effective anymore.

Always check the packaging on your whitening strips box since some strips have different instructions.

Some are worn for different amounts of time, and others are made to whiten at different rates. Even Crest has several options for you to choose from. For the best results, read the box closely, and if you want extra whitening, try picking up an LED accelerator light for even better results.